Course overview

The BA (Hons) Dance (Contemporary) degree is a course of study specifically designed for the education and training of professional contemporary dance artists, performers, choreographers and artist facilitators. Our students become dance artists with highly tuned specialist knowledge, technical and creative skills, plus experience as a producer and teacher with an understanding of project management and dance pedagogy. The range of technical training undertaken during the programme is designed to train the body, whilst developing artistic intelligence and an understanding of movement that enables the dancer to respond to the varied and changing demands of contemporary choreography. Students are encouraged to be curious about the place of contemporary dance within the broader landscape of the professional arts scene. We provide opportunities for students to work in collaboration with other arts organisations and professional settings, and for you to engage with different audiences at different stages of your professional training. Through the programme, students embrace a range of industry-relevant modes of working, such as dance film, site-specific practice, social responsibility in dance, collective working, as well as a thorough grounding in traditional theatre practice.

NSCD programmes of study are validated by the University of Kent. The Programme Specification for this course is available here: BA (Hons) Dance (Contemporary) Programme Specification

NSCD aims to have full degree awarding powers from September 2025 (subject to Office for Students approval). This is an exciting step, in the school’s history enabling us to take that next step in control of our curriculum and course portfolio. In the unlikely event NSCD does not achieve degree awarding powers in this academic cycle, our degrees will continue to be validated by the University of Kent.

Entry requirements

Entry is through a successful audition and interview.

Additionally, candidates should normally have gained five GCSE passes (grade C/4 or above), which must include English Language, and two A Level passes or a L3 BTEC National diploma or professional/vocational training at an appropriate level.

Exceptions are made for 17 year-olds who are offered a place on the degree course, who would therefore not have completed A Levels or a full diploma etc. Equivalent qualifications may also be accepted depending on the strength of the grades achieved. Equivalent level overseas qualifications are also accepted.

In some cases, applicants who don’t have the standard entry requirements will be required to complete the School Matriculation Task as part of their entry requirements.

Any questions about any of the above can be directed to/further details can be obtained from admissions@nscd.ac.uk

NSCD Value Added

We are devoted to the experience we give our students. Based on a comparison with other HE Dance degrees of the same price, we offer the following as ‘value added’:

• A full term extra of tuition (May-July) including classes, support and guidance
• On average more contact hours per week (creative workshops and technique classes)

Plus

• Enrichment classes are offered in the evening, some of which are free to NSCD students – these have included pointe work, fitness, virtuosic ballet vocabulary, yoga, percussion and lighting for dance, gymnastics for dancers, hop-hop, house and voguing
• Visiting workshops with guest choreographers and companies
• Access to visiting artists and practitioners talks
• Cost of travel to ‘site’ work
• Career development workshops inc. audition preparation
• Sponsored theatre visits
• On-site injury intervention and support
• Reduce priced theatre tickets and deals
• On-site counselling service
• Access to additional rehearsal spaces
• Access to projects and research run by staff and our network of partner organisations
• Subsidised support for injury support including Physiotherapy, Osteopathy and Acupuncture
• Connection to projects which cross the small specialist institutions in Leeds